Universal-feed embroidering-machine



Aarucmou HLw APm'Q, 19w.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2" w i. a w 5 M h Q a NMRNW 4 SHEETS-SHEET l- 4 INVENTOR 1 VVizZZerZlfyerS a: I5 5 o a w v WITNESSES W. MYERS.

UNIVERSAL FEED EMBROIDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 19M!- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Dec. 16, 1919..

' 1 .I'NVENTOR -WaZi er]\{yeI- 3 BY 7' V a ATTORNEY WITNESSES WA MYERS.

UNIVERSAL FEED EMBROIDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1918.

Patented Dec.16,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- WITNESES ATTORNEY W. MYERS. umvansm; FEED EMBROIDERING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. I9l8- I Patented Dec. 16,1919.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 8 v 9 4 m w J J w v. p a 110i. i? w v IINYENTOR mlferfldyers, BY

ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER MYERS, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THE siNGEE. MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERsEY.'

UNIVERSAL-FEED EMBROIDERING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

To all whom 1'2- 122 my concern Be it known that I, TALTER MYERS, a citizen of the Fnited States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal-v Feed Em]iroideriug-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings. This invention relates to an improvement Another object of this invention is to provide improved supporting and actuating means for the feeding-foot and for the braid-guide lifting elements of machines of this class, in order to permit ready adjustment of the pressures exerted by the same upon the material.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims;

' In accordance with the present construction, the feed-bar carrying the feeding foot is supported for universal movement and is adapted to be actuated from the feed-lover in the usual manner. The actuating camelement for the feed-lever is however provided with a plurality of cam-faces of successively varying inclination and is supported to permit circular adjustment of the same so that the feed-lever may be engaged by a cam-face imparting the desired amplitude of movement to the feeding foot.

The feed-bar and braid-guide lifting elements are carried by tubular bars or sliding sleeves mounted for vertical reciprocation and housing springs of which the pressures 5 may be varied byadjustablel'mshings. These elements are positively actuated in one direction from cams on the driving shaft of the machine and are retracted by the housed springs mentioned,

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure l in sewing machines for embroidering, espeis a front side elevation, partly in section, of a sewing machine embodying the present improvement and having its face-plate removed. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation, partly in section, of the machine. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the sewing machine. Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view on the line Ar\ Fig. '2. Fig. 5 is a detail bottomplan view of the feed-actuating cam-element. Fig. 6 is a view in central vertical section of the cylinder, needle-bar and parts carried by said cylinder including the feedlever. Fig. 7 is a detail top-plan view of the cam-element and showing the reciprocating arm therefor. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view 011 the line B-B of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in section. of the braid-guide and its carrier. Fig. 10 is a rear side view of the supporting frame illustrating the cams and levers for-actuating the. needle ar, feed-bar and the braid-guide bar. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views in section of the feed-bar supporting sleeve and the post upon which the, sleeve is mounted.

Referring to 'the drawings, the sewing machine is'constructed with a bed-plate 1, from which rises the vertical standard 2- of the overhanging bracket-arm 3, terminating in the head 4: to which is suitably secured the needle-bar and feed-supporting frame 5. Journaled in suitable bearings provided: in the overhanging arm is the main or driving shaft 6.

The frame 5 is formed with parallel, horizontally extending bearing brackets 7 and 8, having vertically alined apertures in which is journaled for rotary movement the cylinder 9, carrying the needle-bar, feed and braid-guide actuating elements.

Mounted for vertically reciprocatory movements in the cylinder 9 is the needlebar 10. carrying the needle 11 and constrained in the usual manner to rotate with the cylinder. Secured to the needle-bar and slidiugly mounted upon the cylinder is the peripherally grooved collar 12 embraced by the forked end of the arm 13, projecting from the needle-bar driver 14 vertically slidable in ways formed in the fran'ie 5. The needle-bar driver is reciprocated in a well known manner from a roller-stud 15, projecting from the usual flange on the driving shaft (5 and entering a camrgroove 16 formed in the driver.

Cooperating with the needle beneath the clotlrplate in the formation of stitches is an oscillating shuttle 17 supported by a shuttle-carrier 18. The shuttle is formed with suitable shoulders engaged by the shuttledriver 19 carried. by the spiral-shaft '20 mounted for rotary movement with and upon the gear-member 21 fixed upon the entering diz-iinetrically opposite sides of a peripheral groove formed in the collar iii; The bifurcated arm is suitably secured to a rock-shaft 2T, journaled in bearings provided in the bed-plate and carrying a crankarm 28 connected by means of a pitman '29 with an actuating eccentric upon the driving shaft.

The cylinder 9 and the sl1uttlecarrier 18 are adapted to be manually rotated by means of a hand-crank 30 carried by a crank-arm 31 secured to a crank-shaft journaled in a bearing provided in the bracket 33 suitably secured to the under side of the clothplate. The crank-shaft 32 through intermeshing gears actuates a shaft 3% which in a similar manner actuates a shaft both of which shafts are journaled in the bracket The shaft at its forward end, through intermeshing gears, drives t A right shaft 36; carrying a spur-gear 3! in mesh with thd gear member 2L and consequently rotates the 'shuttlewarrier independently of its oscillating ioop-taking movements. At its rearward end the shaft drives, through intermeshing gears, the vertical shaft 38, which in a similar man ner actuates the horizontal shaft 39 journaled in the orerhanging blitCliQt-21lliL p shaft 39, at its forward end Carries member 40 in mesh with a gear-re rotatably supported upon a stra It upon the frame 5 and carrying a bevelgear 43 in mesh with a similar gear it suitably secured upon the cylinder 9. The bearing surface of the stud-shaft 42 for the gear-member 41 is eccentric to its reduced end thereby permittingadjustment of the gear member l1.

As usual in machines of this class there provided a stop-motion device adapted automatically stop the machine after completion if each stitch unless mam prevented from operating. In the present machine there is embodied a well known form of stop-motion device of which the component parts do not form a part of this invention and detailed reference thereto is therefore deemed unnecessary. I

Rcirrring now more particularly to the feeding mechanism, a feeding foot i5 is detachably secured to a feed-bar 46 mounted at its upper end for universal movement upon transverse pivotal axes, being pivotally secured by screws, as t7, to the bifurcated pin 48, pivotally support-ed upon a bearing bracket l9, and held against endwise movement by a screw 50. The bearing bracket i5) is formed with an upwardly projecting arm 51. entering a guiding slot in the upper bracket T of the frame 5, the guiding slot being capable of contraction by means of a screw 52 to take up wear in the parts. The bearing bracket 48) projects laterally from a tubular element in the form of a vertically sliding sleeve 53 mounted upon a hollow post 54, supported in alined apertures in the frame brackets T and 8 and secured against movement by a screw 55 which bears against its reduced lower end. A cylinder block is inserted in the post 54 the periphery of the block projecting upon opposite sides mediately above its reduced lower end. The lower projecting edges of the block 56 are adapted to rest upon the bifurcated resistance member suitably secured to the sleeve 52-3. Housed within the post 5- and bearing upon the biock 56 is a coiled spring of which the upper end bears against an adjustable bushing 59 threaded into the post 5%. The sleeve is provided with a lug 6O projecting through a slot in the frame 5 and adapted to be engaged by one arm of a beilcrank-lever (S1 fulcrumed on the 4: H UP 11d 3 and held in engagement with a cam l the main-shaft. A hand lifterdever is proridcd, actuating a liftcr cam ied to engage the arm of the bellcrankyer 61 beneath the lug ($0 to lift the feeding foot when desired. It is to be understood from the foregoing description that the feeding foot is supported for universal movement and is reciprocated toward and from the work by positive lifting means and spring retracting means of which the spring pressure may be varied according to the material being operated upon.

The feeding movements of the feedingfoot 4-?) are derived from a cam 66 upon the main-shaft and acting upon one arm of a lwllcrank-lever 6S, fulcrumed upon the frame 5 and of which the other arm overlies a lug 69, projecting from a tubular clemeat in the form of a sliding sleeve 70 and through a slot in the frame 5. The tubular element 70 is guided for vertical reciprocation in an aperture formed in the upper bearing bracket 7 and is entered at its lower end by a braid-guide lifting bar 4 partly through slots formed in the post un- H ll 71, hereinafter described. A coiled spring 72 is housed within the tubular element 70, resting at its lower end upon a dividing wall formed on the bar 71 and at its upper end bearing against an adjustable bushing 73 threaded into the tubular element 70. The action of the spring on the tubular element is to elevate the same, while the cam on the main-shaft positively lowers this element.

Projecting laterally from the tubular element 70 is a forked arm 74 embracing and sustaining a grooved collar or cam-element 75 capable of longitudinal as well as rotary movement relative to the cylinder '9. The cam-element 75 is formed with a series of cam-faces, successively varying 1n inclination and any one of which is adapted to actuate a feed-lever 76. This feed-lever is fulcrumed between spaced ears formed on a guide-block 77, suitably secured upon the cylinder 9 and having parallel guiding surfaces, as 78. Surrounding the guide-block is a feed-collar 79 of which two surfaces are in sliding contact with the guiding surfaces 78, and the two opposite surfaces of which are spaced from the guide-block to provide clearance for lateral movement of the feedcollar 79 relative to the guide-block. The feed-collar is provided with a notch entered by one arm of the feed-lever 76 and with apertures entered by springs, as 80, suitably secured upon the guide-block. These springs act in opposition to the action of the cam-element 75 and impart retracting movements to the feeding foot, at the same time tending to hold the upper end of the feed-lever in contact with an actuating camface. The flanged upper periphery of the feed-collar 79 overlies a feed-ring 81 formed with a slotted shank suitably secured upon the feed-bar.

In operation, the vertical reciprocations' imparted to the tubular element 70 under the action of the cam 66 and the coiled spring 72 cause corresponding reciprocations of the cam-element, thereby rocking the feed-lever on its fulcrum. The lower end of the feed-lever transmits these movements to the feed-bar through the interinediary of the guide-block 77 and the feedring 81. hen it is desired to vary the amplitude of feed, the feed-lever is lifted out of engagement with its actuating camface, which may be done by manual movement of the feeding-foot, and the cam-element 75 revolved until the desired cam-face is reached, the various adjustments possible being preferably indicated on the raised surfaces adjacent each cam-face,

The tubular braid-guide lifting bar 71 is entered at its lower end by a guiding stud 8'2, projecting upwardly from the lower bearing bracket 8, and at its upper end is entered by the spring 7 2 heretofore referred to. The tubular bar 71 is provided with a stud 83 projecting through slots in the tubular element- 70 and in the frame 5. The stud 83 overlies an arm of a bellcranlclever 8i flllQltlll'lQCl upon an eccentric screw-stud 85, supported by the frame 5 and permitting adjustment of the fulcrum of the lever Si. The other arm of this bellcranlelever is adapted to engage a cam 87 on the mainshaft. The function of the spring 72 is twofold in that it not only tends to lift the tu bular element 70 but also to depress the tubular bar 71. Projecting laterally from the bar 71 is a braid-guide lifting fork 88 embracing the grooved end of a sleeve 89 mounted to rotate with the cylinder 9, but capable of longitudinal sliding movement thereupon. The sleeve 89 is further guided by a boss 90 projecting downwardly from the lower bearing bracket 8. A braid-guide 91 is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 89, the shank of the guide being positioned in a groove formed in the sleeve. The guide-shank is provided with a short pivotstud 92- entering an aperture in the sleeve and with a set-screw 93 adapted to bear against the base of the groove in the sleeve. By adjusting the set-screw, the position of the guide relative to the needle may be varied, after which the shank of the guide is secured in the adjusted position by means of the knurled nut 94:.

The means employed in the present construction for supporting and guiding the feed-bar and braid-guide affords increased bearing surfaces capable of being kept in well oiled condition, while the housing of the springs 58 and 72 permits adjustment of the latter to meet the various requirements of materials of different thicknesses, and

further avoids injury to an operator through the breaking of the springs employed in niachines of earlier construction.

The braid or other trimming employed is led to the guide in the usual manner through the hollow cylinder 9 thence through the sleeve 89 and emerging through either of the openings, as 95, formed in the latter. For the purpose of the present invention, any

well known construction may be employed for supporting the trimming supply.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is- 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitcliforming mechanism, "a feedbar, a feeding foot sutained by said feed-bar, an actuating shaft, a feed-actuating cam-element adapted to be reciprocated from said actuating shaft and provided with a plurality of cam-faces of successively varying inclination, means for actuating said feedbar from said cam-element, and means permitting circular adjust-ment of said canrelement to vary the amplitude of feed.

2, In an embroidermg machine, in combi= nation. stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically reciprocable and axially rotatable needle-bar. feeding mechanism adapted to feed a material being acted upon in any direction in a single plane and including a cam-clement supported for rota" v movement to accord with the direction of feed, and a plurality of feed-actuating cam-faces of successively varying inclination upon said element.

8. In an emhroidering machine, in combination. stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically reciprocable and axially rotatable needle-bar, feeding mechanism adapted to feed a material being acted upon in any direction in a single plane and including a a cam-element supported for rotary movement to accord with the direction of feed. a plurality of teed-actuating cam-faces of successively varying inclination upon said cam-element. a feed-lever adapted to engage any one of said cam-faces, and means permitting adjustment of said cam-element to vary the amplitude of feed.

4. A four-motion upper feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feeding-toot, a pair of vertically reciprocable sliding sleeves, means for positively actuating said sleeves in one direction to impart feeding and feed-lift movements to said feeding-foot, and means including adjustable springs housed within said sleeves for retracting the same.

A sewing machine comprising, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including a feeding-foot, a trimmingguide, a plurality of vertically reciprocable sliding sleeves, means for positively actuating said sleeves in one direction to impart feeding and feed-lift movements to said feeding-foot and lifting movements to said trimming-guide, and means including ad ustable springs housed Within said sleeves for retracting the same.

6. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitclrforming mechanism, a feed-bar, a feeding-foot sustained by said feed-bar, means for imparting feeding movements to said feeding-foot, a trimming-guide, means for alternately raising and lowering said feeding-foot and said trimming-guide including a plurality of tubular elements, and an adjustable spring housed within each of said tubular elements.

7. In an embroidering machine. in bination. stitch-forming mechanism includinga vertically reciprocable and axially rotatable needle-bar. feeding mechanism adapted to feed a material being acted upon in any direction in a single plane and including a camelement having a plurality of feed actuating cam-faces supported for rotary movement to accord with the direction of feed, a vertically reciprocable sliding sleeve supporting said element, means for positively actuating said sleeve in one direction, a spring housed within said sleeve for retracting the same, and means for adjusting 1 he pressure eXertedbv said spring.

H. A tour-motion upper feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feedbar. a feeding-toot carried by said teed-bar, a sliding sleeve sustaining said feed-bar, a tubular post upon which said sleeve is slidably mounted. an adjustable spring housed within said tubular post, means for transmitting a downward pressure exerted by said spring to said sliding sleeve, means for positively lifting said sliding sleeve against the pressure exerted by said spring, and means for imparting feeding movements to said feeding foot.

9. In an embroidering machine, in combination. stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically reciprocable and axially rotatable needle-bar, a feed-bar carrying a feeding foot'adapted to feed a material being acted upon in any direction in a single plane, a trimming-guide, means for imparting feeding movements to said feeding-foot including a vertically reciprocable sliding sleeve, means for imparting vertically recip- 'r0cable movements to said trimming-guide including a tubular element telescopically ar ranged Within said sliding sleeve, and an adjustable spring housed Within said sleeve and adapted to impart oppositely directed movements to said sleeve and said tubular element. i

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification.

WALTER MYERS. 

